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Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

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Lars Wacherhausen
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:38 pm
Location: Denmark

Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Post by Lars Wacherhausen »

Hi letterheads.

I want to try to chip glas for the first time. Im from Denmark and its not possible to get asphaltum varnish in the stores and I want to try to do some letters with the effect. Are there an alternative for the varnish?

Another thing is, im tryin to do this in home and theres about 25c here. Is it not possible then?

Thanks :)
Roderick Treece
Posts: 1086
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: San deigo Calif
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Re: Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Post by Roderick Treece »

Lars,
You don't need to use Asphaltum to do chipping. Do a shearch and you will find the info
Mike Jackson
Site Admin
Posts: 1705
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:02 pm
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
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Re: Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Post by Mike Jackson »

Lars,
You probably need to be looking for "asphaltum"...not asphaltum varnish.

I'd say there is almost a 100% chance you can find it in your area. It is a very old product, used in lots of artistic printing processes.
It is used heavily when doing etched plates for printing, along with the old stone litho processes.
If you went to the art department of almost any college and took a printmaking class, you'd find it on the shelves.

So, check around. You'll find it in the better stocked art supply stores around the world.

As Roderick stated, it isn't really that necessary to have to just do glue-chipping. None of us used it at all for Glue-Chipping until Rick Glawson uncovered its use in regards to a few copper masks. Asphaltum can be used to create a barrier for the glue, but really stencil does the same thing.

Good luck,
Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson / co-administrator
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY

Photography site:
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Jackson Hole photography blog:
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Doug Bernhardt
Posts: 1077
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 9:29 am
Location: Ottawa Canada
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Re: Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Post by Doug Bernhardt »

Just a quick addition....in Europe it may be called "bitumen" instead
Lars Wacherhausen
Posts: 37
Joined: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:38 pm
Location: Denmark

Re: Alternative to asphaltum varnish

Post by Lars Wacherhausen »

Doug Bernhardt wrote:Just a quick addition....in Europe it may be called "bitumen" instead
That helped allot! Thanks :D
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